A planning application has been submitted for an “outstanding, dynamic and creative” workplace development in the New Islington neighbourhood of Manchester.
With nearly £8m of social value set to be generated for the local community over a five year period, developers say the project will “set a new standard for social impact in the city”.
Subject to approval from Manchester City Council, developer General Projects will create a five building campus that will ultimately bring 3,500 jobs to the area, alongside over 100 SMEs together with a mix of innovative blue-chip companies.
General Projects’ vision for Pollard Street – which is its first development in the city – is for “an inclusive, modern, innovative and sustainable commercial destination” with space available within the campus ranging from micro-units, to Grade-A creative innovation offices, meaning it will appeal to ambitious start-ups, fast growing SMEs and more established businesses.
All organisations located at the development will share a common commitment to supporting local people through “community give back” initiatives, such as mentoring, training, employment or supporting apprenticeships.
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Located alongside the Ashton Canal and inspired by the city’s historic cotton and textile mills, the development – which is designed by architects Hawkins\Brown and landscape architects Planit.IE – will deliver over two acres of “new, exceptional public space” as the area benefits from a £5m investment into landscape and green space to create a better, healthier and safer environment.
The sustainable credentials of Pollard Street will be underpinned by its car free policy, low carbon transport links and an innovative low-carbon approach to construction and operation.
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Over 50 new trees will be planted on site and 550 bike spaces will also be provided as the development delivers a 30% net gain in biodiversity.
General Projects
General Projects’ vision is further emphasised by its commitment to “setting a new standard for social investment through the built environment” and this includes forming a new Community Wealth Partnership with Manchester City Council, which will see the delivery of a range of targeted social initiatives, including:
Mentoring programmes for local young people and businesses.
Free workspace for local start-ups.
Apprenticeship and internship programmes to tackle local unemployment.
Commitments to generate over 5,000 hours of community voluntary work per year.
A programme of regular events including school open days to skills and training events.
General Projects has adopted a ‘Manchester-first’ procurement policy – with at least 25% of supply chain spend in Greater Manchester – and during construction, an estimated £200,000 in social value will be generated from apprenticeships, work experience days, site open days and other voluntary, community and social enterprise commitments.
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It has already forged links with local schools, grassroots organisations and community charities to ensure that social value will directly benefit the immediate area as part of the company’s commitment to creating a lasting legacy in the city.
Jacob Loftus – Founder and CEO of General Projects – said: “We are thrilled and excited to be bringing our plans for Pollard Street forward. We have been eager to work in Manchester for a long time and while we know the pandemic will bring challenges for the local economy in the short term, it remains a city alive with an extraordinary buzz of enterprise, innovation and culture.
“At Pollard Street, we see the opportunity to do something unique and with a very significant social impact to really drive the recovery forward by creating new opportunities for start-ups, entrepreneurs and local people.
“We hope to set a new benchmark for delivering transformative social value through the built environment [and] we’re currently liaising with Manchester City Council and other local partners in order to ensure every aspect of the scheme helps support the local area, whether that’s through job creation or improving the local environment.
“We see our role as developer and building operator and also an enabler in terms of community engagement and social impact by removing many of the barriers that prevent a lot of businesses wanting to put something back into their local area from doing so.”
You can find more information about Pollard Street via the General Projects’ website here.
Property
Greater Manchester town named ‘property hotspot’ after prices jump nearly 10% last year
Emily Sergeant
One Greater Manchester town has been named a ‘property hotspot’ after house prices have increased by nearly 10%.
Every year, leading property listing website, Rightmove, takes a look at all the cities, towns, and residential areas across the UK where house prices saw a significant hike on average last year, and puts together a top 10 list.
The ‘hotspot’ table is made up of a variety of locations where prices rose the most, when compared to the end of the year prior.
Taking the top spot on 2024’s list of property ‘hotspots’ is Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey, where the average asking price for a home jumped by 12.5% in 2024, compared with the end of 2023, while the runner up has been named as Bristol’s city centre, with average prices rising by 9%.
A Greater Manchester town has been named a ‘property hotspot’ after prices jumped nearly 10% last year / Credit: Pexels
Rounding out the top three, however, is the town of Swinton in Salford, with prices also rising by 9%, on average, in 2024 compared to 2023.
Swinton is becoming increasingly popular with first time buyers and families looking for more space and flexibility, while still being close to Manchester city centre, thanks to the several good local schools and community spaces within walking distance.
Other nearby north west areas in the top 10 for 2024 include Skelmersdale, in Lancashire near the border with Merseyside, and Darwen, also in Lancashire.
Top 10 ‘property hotspots’ for 2024
Sunbury-on-Thames
Bristol city centre
Swinton
Skelmersdale
Gosforth
Swansea
Merthyr Tydfil
Darwen
North Shields
Glenrothes
Overall, the North West was region with the second place highest increase in house prices in 2024 at 3.8%, followed by Wales and beaten only by the North East.
“Despite a slow year for price growth overall, there will always be pockets of Great Britain which perform above the average, and 2024’s list of hotspots is a mixed picture,” commented Rightmove’s Chief Data Officer, Steve Pimblett.
“Agents tell us that good quality homes in popular areas have continued to attract buyer interest, even in the slower periods of the market since mortgage rates went up.
“We predict that this year will be busier for the market in terms of price increases and sales, particularly if mortgage rates reduce.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Rightmove predicts that house prices will rise by 4%, on average, across Great Britain by the end of this year.
Featured Image – Benjamin Elliot (via Unsplash)
Property
A house on Greater Manchester’s most expensive street, with its own football pitch, has gone up for sale
Thomas Melia
A multi million pound mansion has recently gone up for sale in Greater Manchester and it’s even got its own football pitch.
There’s a six bedroom property that has just gone on the market and it’s situated on the region’s most expensive street – Barrow Lane in Hale.
Coming in at a whopping £5,950,000 and spread across four floors, the property nicely titled ‘Green Meadows’ is nestled in the affluent Trafford neighbourhood.
Starting from the (under)ground up, the basement level has everything you could ever wish for. From a private cinema room to your own personal club and bar function room… that’s my Saturday night sorted.
Wicked is going on repeat in here. Just try and stop me!Who needs the club, when the club comes to you? Credit: Rightmove
That’s not all, there’s six more rooms beneath the ground floor such as a store, plant room, recreational area and even a gym with its own sauna and treatment room attached.
As you make your way up the winding staircase to the entrance level, there’s a large reception hall, open plan kitchen, covered terrace and something I never knew I needed until today, a breakfast area.
Up another flight of stairs and onto the first floor where you’re greeted by a galleried landing that leads you off to three separate bedrooms with accompanying en suites.
Each of the six bedrooms in this house has its own en suite meaning you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own living quarters to spruce yourself up before the start of each day.
Grand bedroom in this Greater Manchester mansion.Imagine a long hot shower in there.Credit: Rightmove
The second and top floor is much similar with the final three bedrooms and a second galleried landing. I’ll have to get looking through my best selfies and see which ones I can frame on all these walls!
However, the top floor is boasting something much more impressive that, a room which many have dreamt of for years and years; a walk in wardrobe.
This gives me even more of an excuse to buy new clothes.Credit: Rightmove
Branded as a ‘Dressing Room’ on the official floor plan for the property, this walk in wardrobe has near enough, floor to ceiling storage and an island unit in the middle for, you guessed it, even more storage.
This mansion’s quarters spans just under one acre of land, 0.73 acres to be exact, and the outside of the house features a grand garden space that’s just as interesting.
As you exit the back of the property, after walking out onto the tiled beginning of the garden, your eyes can’t help but fixate on the almost full scale football pitch dominating the green space.
Alongside the main building, there’s a double garage and behind that you’ll find a mini basketball court, that’ll have you dusting off your Jordans and shooting some hoops in no time.
Now we know not everyone is fortunate enough to afford such grand houses like these, but when it’s online and right in our faces, it’d be rude not to have a nosey, right?
To view the extensive property for yourself including the full floor plan and more pictures, head over to the listing page on Rightmove HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
7th October 2020 
